Doctor, Doctor: How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Checked?

Maybe you remember your mom or dad take you to an eye exam a lot when you were in grade school. Children get an eye check up frequently at very young ages – sometimes, up to three times a year.

Once you’re in adulthood, though, mom and dad are no longer there to lead you by the hand to the eye doctor.

“How often should you get your eyes checked?” might be a common question among young adults who want to stay on top of their vision health. It could also be a common question for you if you’re reaching an elderly age and are worried about failing vision.

We’ll take a look at the frequency of eye doctor visits, so you can maintain healthy vision!

How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Checked

Generally speaking, you will already consult with an eye doctor if you are someone who already suffers from poor eyesight, such as:

Nearsightedness

Farsightedness

Cataracts

Glaucoma

Corneal disease

Chances are, you already have a plan of action set up with your optometrist. You probably visit for an eye exam about once every year (maybe more, depending on what you’ve discussed).

If you are a young adult with healthy vision and no signs or history of vision failure or eye disease, you can be laxer with your visits. That’s especially true if you’re proactive about your eyesight, such as by eating foods healthy for your eyes as outline by Austin Vision Therapy Center.

Ages 20-39

If you are between the ages of 20 and 39, consider having an eye exam every 3-5 years.

Ages 40-64

If you are between the ages of 40 and 64, consider having an eye exam every 2-4 years.

Ages 65+

If you are 65 years of age or older, consider having an eye exam every 1-2 years. Hair loss isn’t the only problem that typically comes with old age. While it is a misconception that old age guarantees eyesight failure, there are still bodily functions that are more likely to break down with age.

Extenuating Circumstances

Regardless of your age, you should see an optometrist if you are suffering from any kind of vision or eye-related issues. Some symptoms to look out for include:

Blurry vision

Double vision

Crossed eyes

Lazy eyes

Poor vision during particular times of day

Itchy eyes

Constant headaches

Glare around bright lights

Also, if you have a history of eyesight problems or diseases, you can feel free to increase your eye exam frequency from above by at least one year. Check your family medical history for signs of:

Glaucoma

Corneal Disease

Macular degeneration

Cataracts

Diabetes

People with diabetes – Type 1 or Type 2 – are especially susceptible to eye diseases.

Taking Care of Your Overall Health

If you already have eyesight issues, problems, or conditions that make eye failure likely, you probably already have an eye exam schedule. If not, then you may be wondering how often should you get your eyes checked.

It largely depends on your age, and generally speaking, the older you get the more frequently you should have your eyes checked.

But if you’d like to find even more ways to stay on top of your overall health, check out a list of vitamin supplements you absolutely should be taking!